The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-10
BURIED TREASURE.
Looking For a Fortune Near the
Earth's Surface.

FroBs the Houston Post.
Some years ago rumor got ahoat that
there were large sums of money buried in
the old Schrimp field just beyond the Gal
weston draw bridge in the Second ward, and
despite the vigilance of the owners OF the
place the rays of the morning sun would
daily beat their way through the forest OF
trees into large excavations that had been
made by credulous people in searching for
the treasure. II anyone has ever been the
richer for his midnight exertions he has kept
it profoundly secret although stories OF an
incredible nature have been circulated by
negroes and others living i'll the neighbor-
hood. The origin of the wild stories regard
ing the buried wealth, briefly stated, is
about as follows: Years ago, when Houston
was in its infancy and the scene OF the mar
rative was considered away out In the
country there lived family whose name
is indelibly attached TO the place BY fru-
gality and united exertion
THEY BECAME WEALTHY.
Their increase of fortune, however, did
not affect their style of living or their ex-
penditureS of money, and they soon obtained
a reputation for penuriousness. In course
of time the head of the family died and was
buried in what is termed the field, although
it more resembles a forest, and in time his
helpmate occupied place beside him. Their
cloSeneSs in money matters, together with
the fact that the old lady was so frequently
seen aimleSsly- it was consld-
ered-wandering around the old tomb OF
her husband and in the shadows of the trees,
soon excited the suspicious of the idle IN the
neighborhood, and when she died, without
leaving any great amount of money, stories
of all sorts flew in the widest manner. The
ground was torn up in all directions at the
dead hours of night, when the heirs of the
place were least expecting it. Whether the
surviving members of the family knew or
believe anything of the burying of money
is not known, but it is thought that they
did little if anything in
THE DIGGING LINE,
but confined their attention to holding what
they had, an occupation in which they were
not very successful as a lawsuit resulted in
most of the property going into the hands of
other parties. For season nothing would
be heard concerning the money supposed to
be lying with its owners, and the old field
would remain untouched. Then, some per-
son going through the place. would discover
| fresh traces of a search and remarkable yarns
| would again follow. This thing was kept up
for several years, and ended, it was thought
ana hoped, long ago But again the old field
is the source of topics and superstition.
A few weeks ago a party of gentlemen
strolling through the old deserted field dis
covered that several bricks had been re-
moved from the vault in which the old
| couple lay for so long a time. A few days
ago In again passing through they dis
| covered a large hole in the place of the
small one, and in again passing the place
last Sunday they saw that the whole struct-
ure had been knocked in. A reporter Wis
| tied the scene yesterday and found it to be
true In addition to the demolition of the
tomb and the absence of its contents large,
deep hole, evidently but recently dug, was
seen short distance from the vault and
VULNERABLE TRACKS
indicated the work of the believer in the old
stories A negro who was found short
distance beyond the field, and who manfully
refused to go within its limits when re
queSted so to do, stated that he was positive
there was money 'hid in dab somewhar, but
/ isn't gwine in dab to look fob it." When
asked why, he said because there's ''sperits
moyin' roun' dab all de time" and that he
and everybody in his household had at vari-
| Gus times ''seen EN-" When told of the
hole dug near the grave he lifted up his eyes
| from the cork that he had been watching as
| it laZily fioated on the water, and said: "Dey
isln Twisting around in his place and
holding up his finger, he continued: II seed
| two men hangin 'roun' hyar, femme see, hit
wus Saturday night. One of 'em had a sack
an a spade, an de yother had some'in' in his
| ham wot looked like one O. desc hyar things
what a surveyor locks through" Whether
the Negroes story is correct or not, or what
ever the cause or result of the depreciation,
the fact stands forth that the bodies that
so long rested in the old vault are gone and
the law is thereby violated. To forever
settle the question whether or not there is
| any treasure on the place it might be well
for all parties interested to make one final
and thorough search and let the old place
rest